Good day.
Of all the multitudes of characters seen in the Star Wars expanded universe, the one that
is still the most badass is, of course, Han Solo.
But the close second is also, of course, Kyle Katarn.
Really, for a first person shooter protagonist, Kyle Katarn is really unique in that he actually
has a significant character arch over the Dark Forces games.
Now the game we're looking at today is Star Wars: Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast, or Dark
Forces 3 1/2 or something along those lines.
Now, in this game, we actually see Kyle Katarn not as a neophyte Jedi but rather as a bitter
outcast Jedi.
Now he was not exiled from the Jedi Order by Luke or anything, he just decided to not
continue on as a Force user and he just sort of abandoned it.
Now, in this game, we actually get to see Kyle Katarn come to terms with his Jedi heritage,
and it is quite entertaining to say the least.
Now, apart from the story, the gameplay for Jedi Knight 2 is really quite excellent.
Now the graphics for this game are, quite simply, amazing.
This uses the Quake 3 Arena engine, and it certainly shows.
This game has aged quite well to say the least.
Everything looks quite realistic, everything flows rather smoothly, and overall, the Force
powers are used a lot more efficiently than in Jedi Knight 1.
Really, this game is in every way an improvement over the original.
Unlike with Jedi Knight 1, this game was not developed by LucasArts.
Rather, it was developed by Raven Software, and it definitely shows.
Like in all of the epic Raven Software games, you get numerous weapons that are all pretty
distinct from one another.
From the humble Imperial Stormtrooper Blaster Rifle, to the ever awesome Disruptor Rifle
that allows you to disintegrate enemies.
The level design is absolutely superb, as one would expect from a Raven Software game.
It is anything but linear, and there are many different passages to explore.
The music for the game is pretty bloody game; it's still just the Star Wars score, but it
has been arranged fairly well.
The enemies in the game range from the basic Storm trooper to the new Shadow Trooper, and
that's one of the things about this game that sets it apart from the first.
The lightsaber combat is extremely well designed; it actually feels like a legitimate lightsaber
fight.
Not a lightsaber duel, with all the various choreographed moved, but a legitimate fight.
It's fast, it's dirty, and you can get killed really easily.
And that's really one of the best aspects of the game.
The lightsaber combat is probably the best it's ever going to get.
Now in addition to fighting various Dark Jedi, you even get to fight battle droids.
I'm not talking those crappy little B-1 battle droids, I'm talking ED-209 styled giant mechs!
Really, could this game get any better?
Wait a minute...
Is that Lando?!
Aww yeah.
It just got better.
Yes, Lando Calrissian shows up in this game as well, making this game totally Lando.
And you certainly do not have to escort him at all.
Overall, Jedi Knight 2 is an excellent game, and one that I highly recommend picking up
for any fan, be it one of first person shooters or Star Wars.
Because you can't get a game more Lando than this one.
And so, this is Jon, signing off.